One of the last photos taken of the hot air balloon before it crashed in a field near Lockhart. July 30, 2016. Sarita Gutierrez says she took the photo around 7:35 a.m., minutes before the crash. (Courtesy: Sarita Gutierrez)

Federal regulators in Washington D.C. want to take a closer look at the hot air balloon crash that killed 16 people near Lockhart this summer. The hot air balloon crashed after hitting high voltage power lines killing every single passenger including the pilot.

The National Transportation Safety Board announced that they will hold an investigative hearing on Dec. 9. The hearing will allow the NTSB to hear sworn testimony from witnesses about the accident.

The crash is now considered the worst of its kind in U.S. history. A neighbor who saw the aftermath said hot air balloons are common in the area. “I had just stepped outside on the back porch… I heard one pop before I stepped out the door, then I heard another pop. And I’m looking around to see who’s shooting — because it sounded like a gun going off — and then I looked off over there and the next thing I knew you saw a big fireball go up,” Margaret Wylie said. “I called 911 and I waited until I saw the fire department go by.”

From 2002-2012, data from the NTSB shows 16 people died in hot air balloon crashes in the United States. Previously the most recent deadly Texas balloon crash was in Mesquite, Texas in August 1992.

One of the last photos taken of the hot air balloon before it crashed in a field near Lockhart. July 30, 2016. Sarita Gutierrez says she took the photo around 7:35 a.m., minutes before the crash. (Courtesy: Sarita Gutierrez)

Possibly the last photo taken of the hot air balloon that crashed on July 30, 2016 (Courtesy: Erika Gonzales)

The scene of a deadly hot air balloon crash west of Lockhart, Texas. July 30, 2016 (Photo via WOAI)

The basket of the hot air balloon involved in the deadly crash near Lockhart from a November 2014 photo. Sixteen people were on board at the time of the crash. (Courtesy: Gaylynn Djafarzade)

The hot air balloon involved in a deadly crash near Lockhart on July 30, 2016, seen in a November 2014 photo. (Courtesy: Gaylynn Djafarzade)

The hot air balloon involved in a deadly crash near Lockhart on July 30, 2016, seen in a November 2014 photo. (Courtesy: Gaylynn Djafarzade)

FBI at the scene of a deadly balloon crash near Lockhart, July 30, 2016 (KXAN Photo/Lauren Lanmon)

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) addresses a deadly hot air balloon crash west of Lockhart, July 30, 2016 (KXAN Photo/Lauren Lanmon)

Authorities at the scene of a deadly hot air balloon crash west of Lockhart on July 30, 2016 (KXAN Photo)

Authorities at the scene of a deadly hot air balloon crash west of Lockhart on July 30, 2016 (KXAN Photo)

16 people were killed after a hot air balloon crashed near Lockhart (KXAN Photo/Lauren Lanmon)

An April 2014 photo taken by State Rep. John Cryier of the balloon involved in a deadly crash on July 30, 2016 (Courtesy: State Rep. John Cyrier)

One of the last photos taken of the hot air balloon before it crashed in a field near Lockhart. July 30, 2016. Sarita Gutierrez says she took the photo around 7:35 a.m., minutes before the crash. (Courtesy: Sarita Gutierrez)

Possibly the last photo taken of the hot air balloon that crashed on July 30, 2016 (Courtesy: Erika Gonzales)

The scene of a deadly hot air balloon crash west of Lockhart, Texas. July 30, 2016 (Photo via WOAI)

The basket of the hot air balloon involved in the deadly crash near Lockhart from a November 2014 photo. Sixteen people were on board at the time of the crash. (Courtesy: Gaylynn Djafarzade)

The hot air balloon involved in a deadly crash near Lockhart on July 30, 2016, seen in a November 2014 photo. (Courtesy: Gaylynn Djafarzade)

The hot air balloon involved in a deadly crash near Lockhart on July 30, 2016, seen in a November 2014 photo. (Courtesy: Gaylynn Djafarzade)

FBI at the scene of a deadly balloon crash near Lockhart, July 30, 2016 (KXAN Photo/Lauren Lanmon)

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) addresses a deadly hot air balloon crash west of Lockhart, July 30, 2016 (KXAN Photo/Lauren Lanmon)

Authorities at the scene of a deadly hot air balloon crash west of Lockhart on July 30, 2016 (KXAN Photo)

Authorities at the scene of a deadly hot air balloon crash west of Lockhart on July 30, 2016 (KXAN Photo)

16 people were killed after a hot air balloon crashed near Lockhart (KXAN Photo/Lauren Lanmon)

An April 2014 photo taken by State Rep. John Cryier of the balloon involved in a deadly crash on July 30, 2016 (Courtesy: State Rep. John Cyrier)

One of the last photos taken of the hot air balloon before it crashed in a field near Lockhart. July 30, 2016. Sarita Gutierrez says she took the photo around 7:35 a.m., minutes before the crash. (Courtesy: Sarita Gutierrez)

Possibly the last photo taken of the hot air balloon that crashed on July 30, 2016 (Courtesy: Erika Gonzales)

The scene of a deadly hot air balloon crash west of Lockhart, Texas. July 30, 2016 (Photo via WOAI)

The basket of the hot air balloon involved in the deadly crash near Lockhart from a November 2014 photo. Sixteen people were on board at the time of the crash. (Courtesy: Gaylynn Djafarzade)

The hot air balloon involved in a deadly crash near Lockhart on July 30, 2016, seen in a November 2014 photo. (Courtesy: Gaylynn Djafarzade)

The hot air balloon involved in a deadly crash near Lockhart on July 30, 2016, seen in a November 2014 photo. (Courtesy: Gaylynn Djafarzade)

FBI at the scene of a deadly balloon crash near Lockhart, July 30, 2016 (KXAN Photo/Lauren Lanmon)

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) addresses a deadly hot air balloon crash west of Lockhart, July 30, 2016 (KXAN Photo/Lauren Lanmon)

Authorities at the scene of a deadly hot air balloon crash west of Lockhart on July 30, 2016 (KXAN Photo)

Authorities at the scene of a deadly hot air balloon crash west of Lockhart on July 30, 2016 (KXAN Photo)

16 people were killed after a hot air balloon crashed near Lockhart (KXAN Photo/Lauren Lanmon)

An April 2014 photo taken by State Rep. John Cryier of the balloon involved in a deadly crash on July 30, 2016 (Courtesy: State Rep. John Cyrier)

KXAN.com provides commenting to allow for constructive discussion on the stories we cover. In order to comment here, you acknowledge you have read and agreed to our Terms of Service. Users who violate these terms, including use of vulgar language or racial slurs, will be banned. If you see an inappropriate comment, please flag it for our moderators to review.